Levi Stauss & Co. shipped all of its manufacturing off shore and the brand almost died. Levi Strauss closed their last U.S. manufacturing plant in San Antonio, Texas, in 2004. Some say it serves them right to lose market share after putting so many faithful employees on the streets. The Levi employees lost their paychecks, and some estimates put Levi’s earnings at $3 billion a year less then when they were at their height.
Today there are more brands than ever now that Levi’s has lost its mountain top position.
However, a jean by any other name is not the same. Denim, like almost any other fabric, has different qualities. You can view the differences in row after row of denim and even have a pair custom made for you at Earnest Sewn in New York’s Meat Packing District.
Focusing on each individual jean and the numerous amounts of processing, hand application, and refinishing techniques used to create an Earnest Sewn jean, ES takes things even further by intentionally incorporating imperfection and inconsistency into key design and sewing details. This is exhibited in irregularities such as stitch detailing, needlework, sewing construction, trims, thread variation, and the ever changing ‘e & s’ back pocket stitching.
Although several themes are referenced throughout the collection, the most significant reference is in Earnest Sewn’s adoption of the Japanese aesthetic system of traditional beauty, Wabi-Sabi. At its core, Wabi-Sabi is the beauty of all things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete.
Stop by the store. No rush. There will be an opportunity to tailor jeans by selecting a denim, individualizing the pocket designs and buttons, and then cut and sew the jeans on-site while you take advantage of their espresso bar or leaf through a book from their library.
Address:
The Earnest Sewn Co.
821 Washington St.
New York, NY 10014
T: 212 242 3414 or 888 7ES JEANS
Hours:
Monday to Friday 11:00am – 7:00pm
Saturday: 11:00am – 8:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am – 7:00pm
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